Foy Duell Blakley

May 16, 1923 - August 4, 2012

Foy Duell "Spider" Blakley, 89, passed away Saturday, August 04, 2012 in Wichita Falls. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 AM on Monday, August 6, 2012 at the New Electra Cemetery in Electra, Texas with Mr. Dennis Hoff, Southside Church of Christ, officiating. Services are under the direction of Dutton Funeral Home in Iowa Park.

Spider was born to Eaford and Lizzie (Read) Blakley on May 16, 1923 in Electra, Texas. He dropped out of school at a young age to work and help his family. He was a tireless worker whose self-education was a notable asset. He enlisted in the National Guard as a teenager and then went on to service in the US Army during WWII where he was a part of one of the first battalions to invade Normandy Beach. Spider was a lifetime member of the VFW and Disabled American Veterans.

After completing his service in the Army, he married Wanda Henderson in Vernon, Texas on June 14, 1947. Prior to her death on March 13, 2002, he was there to help love, care, and feed her at the nursing facility the last two years of her life.

Spider worked many years in the oil fields before working for CE Natco as a welder in Electra, where he retired. After retirement, he enjoyed growing a garden and making summer trips to bring cantaloupes and watermelons from Terrell, Oklahoma and Throckmorton, Texas to sell. Many Electrans looked forward to that treat. His favorite activity had to be fishing, even prior to retirement. Nothing excited him more than to catch catfish with "stink bait." Spider was a quiet man, yet he was knowledgeable in many self-taught areas.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Wanda Blakley, one son, Larry Blakley; two brothers, Troy and Archie Blakley; and one sister, Mattie Callinder.

He is survived by his daughter, Sandra Phillips Sappington and her husband, Ronnie of Wichita Falls; Dwayne Blakley and Donald Ray Blakley and his wife, Susie of Electra; five grandchildren, Chris Phillips of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Ashlee Payne of Wichita Falls; Anthony Blakley of Electra; Jeremy and Amber Blakley of Vernon, Texas; and seven great grandchildren; and four siblings, Laura Boyd of Wichita Falls, Marvella Kee of Jefferson, Texas, Peggy Jones and Jearld Blakley, both of Hobbs, New Mexico.

Memorials may be made to Electra Senior Citizens Center or Hospice of Wichita Falls.